Kathy Wilkening stopped by yesterday to give me a quilt that she and Linda Clark made for me in appreciation of my work at Pioneer Trails Regional Museum. It had been on loan to the museum since 2003, but now it is in my proud possession. What a magnificent piece of work! I put it over a living room chair last night and the more I looked, the more I admired it. Thank you so much, Kathy and Linda. It really means a lot to me.
Detail of “Language of the Plains” Quilt
I have been researching cameras, and finally decided on the model I’d like to try next. The new camera I bought earlier in July will be sent back to the shop for a checking over and possible repairs. That will take more time than I’m willing to be without an image-capturing machine! The sunflowers by the patio are coming into bloom, and there are clouds over the prairies that require my attention!
I’m back from a most enjoyable trip to Cody, Jackson Hole, Red Lodge, and Medora. It pains me to say that my camera stopped working at Devil’s Tower, but I got over it, and my companions took photographs for me! We had wonderful weather and gorgeous scenery all the way out and back. The Tetons and Beartooth mountains at sunset were absolutely spectacular! Our best wildlife viewing was right here in North Dakota at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There were large groups of buffalo on both sides of the vehicle, and they were really putting on a show! Wallowing, fighting, running, sunning; it was all on display.
We hit every art gallery we possible could in the time we had, though the ones in Billings and Miles City will have to wait for another time. I went through the exhibits at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center again, and I am still amazed at what an excellent job they did there. The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson was stunning, also, and I highly recommend it if you get out there. The town of Jackson was bedecked with baskets of colorful flowers everywhere, and loaded with some very, very fine art galleries. We had to try out the saddles at the Cowboy Bar, of course, and go for several mountain drives. The views from the Chief Joseph Highway were striking, and the history touched the heart. Driving above the clouds on the Beartooth Scenic Byway as darkness descended was a most memorable experience! I am very glad to be back in the gently rolling prairie country!
One of the highlights of the trip was the Medicine Wheel, which was quite moving when you saw all the offerings left there. Another was seeing good Old Faithful do its thing, after all these years. We live in an awesome country! From the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo to the colorful storefronts in Red Lodge, the scenery as well as the towns were beautifully created.
Well, the new computer arrived yesterday, and is up and running! That is a big relief. I can see that I’m going to have to learn new ways of managing files and folders before I can get new photos into a post, though. Burning CD’s will also be a little different, but probably not too difficult, after I learn about file browsing on the new machine.
The art reception at Bismarck Art & Galleries Association was beautiful and enjoyable. There was a good crowd, lots of new people to meet, old friends to visit with, a wonderful food and wine presentation, and a spacious, well-lit gallery that really showed the artwork to its best advantage. Thanks again to everybody who supported this exhibit. It was a real honor for me.
Well, after a lot of trying to figure out what was wrong with my old computer, it turned out that a device driver had failed. So, I researched new computer models and ordered one yesterday. The estimated build date is September 14, so that won’t be too long, now. I received an e-mail from an artist whose computer was also out of service, and he remarked that it was both frustrating and freeing. That is exactly how I feel.
We had golf ball size hail here the other night. What a racket! Some leaves and flowers were stripped from their branches, but nothing too serious. I’ve heard that vehicles and crops in the area sustained quite a bit of damage, though. The hail showed up very clearly on my new blue patio chairs!
I got some nice shots of sunflowers the other morning when we had a heavy fog. They will be one of my next posts when I get the new computer up and running. The time is approaching for the art reception at Bismarck Art & Galleries Association tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how my drawings look in that marvelous space!
Well, my computer is not working properly today, so please bear with me as I try to figure out what’s wrong. Maybe it’s just the monitor. Hope so!
After I picked up my “Equus” series of drawings at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck on July 9th, I spent a delightful day with my sister. We had lunch on the patio of a Mexican restaurant, checked out the exhibits at Bismarck Art & Galleries Association, ran some errands, and got together with a couple of friends from Bowman that evening.
Passing Glances Exhibit by Gregory Wilhelmi
One of Wilhelmi’s paintings at BAGA was of the main street in Devils Lake, and my sister recognized the window of an office where she used to work! It’s a small world.
My sister Cindy’s Patio
North Dakota Capitol Grounds
Pioneer Family Sculpture by Avard Fairbanks
Buffalo by Bennett Brien on Capitol Grounds
Horse by Bennett Brien on Capitol Grounds
Here’s another version of the Butterfly Amaryllis, with a touch of red just for today.
Butterfly Amaryllis
My photo of the Little Missouri River was recently purchased by Dakota West Resource Conservation and Development in Dickinson for their annual convention door prize. I took it last autumn, and posted it on my October Excursion blog. The view is from a bluff near Sunset Butte, south of Rhame.
The Little Missouri River in Bowman County
It’s that time of year again, the pre-holiday season when things around the house need to be cleaned and polished. I’ve been going through stacks of old magazines and catalogs, getting rid of whatever I can, and keeping what I might possibly use. Art has been moved around, and decor has been changed, just to make the rooms feel a little more fresh. Next on the list is touching up the paint on walls here and there.
Entry Table with “Sunset South of Bowman”
As Thanksgiving approaches, I think of all the reasons I have to be grateful. Thanks to my family and friends for their company and support, to my fellow artists for their inspiration, assistance, and advice, to the people who visit my website and check out my blog, and to those that express an interest in my work and want to purchase it, to the friendly people of the community of Bowman and the surrounding area, and to Mother Nature, for her never-ending beauty and inspiration. Also, thanks to the people who create books, music, gardens, and art. You make the world a better place! May all of you, from all walks of life, and all the regions of this earth, have a wonderful holiday season, one that is filled with comfort and joy.